𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐄 || 𝐉𝐉𝐊

chapter twenty-one

As he stood there, listening to her words, his entire being felt as if it had been frozen in time. He found himself locked in a gaze with her, unable to look away from her moist eyes. It was as if a spell had been cast upon him, and her eyes were the only thing he could see. He was under her control, completely and utterly. 

Her eyes held a power that rendered him helpless. 

“Why…do you..h-hate me—” 

Suddenly, she broke off mid-sentence, and her grip on his shirt became tighter as she nervously nibbled on her lower lip. A solitary tear escaped from her brimming eyes, rolling down her cheek and landing gently on his own. He was taken aback by the impact of it, feeling surprised and yet somehow honored to bear witness to the depth of her anguish. 

He never expected to see his wife in such a vulnerable and broken state. It made him wonder what she had been hiding from him all this time. He couldn't help but wonder what was causing her sadness, and he wished only if he could take all her pain and suffering onto himself.

As he looked into her eyes once more, she spoke again, her words laced with a mixture of fear and sadness. "You...will also leave me in my worst phase just like all others did, won't you?" Her lips curved into a bittersweet smile, and he could feel his heart wrench in pain at the sight of it.

It was a smile that held so much pain and sorrow, and he knew he would do anything to ease her suffering.

He didn't hesitate for a moment as he wrapped his strong arms around her trembling form, pulling her close as they lay down together. Her face now nestled against his broad chest, and he whispered softly, "In your every phase, you'll always find me by your side." His grip tightened around her, as if he feared that letting go would shatter her fragile form once again.

She remained still for a moment, then slowly tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his with a blend of trepidation and longing. Her voice quivered with vulnerability as she raised a question, one that caught him off guard.

"Then will you stay with me...?" She paused, as if some part of her was scared to complete the question, before finally whispering, "Forever?" Her gaze searched his face, seeking for a glimmer of hope.

He stared back at her, his eyes frozen in surprise, as if her question had knocked the wind out of him. The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavy on her chest, as she waited with bated breath for his response.

Her heart raced like a wild animal, pounding against her ribcage with every passing moment, threatening to burst free from her body.

She didn't know what she hoped to hear, but a small part of her clung to the possibility of a yes. She longed for him to say yes, to whisper a gentle affirmation that maybe, just maybe, life wouldn't be so unbearable with him by her side. But the uncertainty was suffocating, a heavy weight that pressed upon her chest. What if she heard the answer she dreaded most - a no? What if he rejected her, and the fragile hope she clung to shattered into a million pieces?

In that moment, his answer felt like a matter of life and death. Her entire existence hung in the balance, as if the next words out of his mouth would either breathe life into her soul or suffocate her completely.

"Forever...?" he repeated, before a resolute expression formed on his face. "Yes, forever. I'll stay with you forever." His eyes locked onto hers, as he sealed the promise with her in a silent vow.

As their eyes met, a sudden rush of emotions washed over her. Her heart skipped a beat as he sealed the promise with his intense gaze. Slowly, he reached out and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers like vines on a trellis.